Video: Applying formatting to a paragraph

In the last chapter we talked about formatting that you can apply to individual characters such as font, size and so on. Now let's get into formatting that you apply to a whole paragraph. I am going to be controlling this paragraph here so I'll zoom in on it so we can see it better and I'll double- click on it to switch to the Type tool. You can see the cursor flashing inside this paragraph and you might be tempted to try and select the entire paragraph before applying your paragraph formatting but you don't need to because any paragraph formatting that you apply such as horizontal alignment or indents is going to apply to the entire paragraph whether you have it all selected or whether the cursor is just flashing in here or even if you select a little bit of text. It doesn't really matter.

Author David Blatner provides in-depth training on InDesign CS5, the print and interactive page layout application from Adobe, in InDesign CS5 Essential Training. The course shows how to create new documents with strong and flexible master pages, precisely position text and graphics, prepare documents for print, and export designs as interactive PDF or Flash SWF files. Exercise files are included with the course.

Applying formatting to a paragraph

In the last chapter we talked about formatting that you can apply to individualcharacters such as font, size and so on.Now let's get into formatting that you apply to a whole paragraph.I am going to be controlling this paragraph here so I'll zoom in on it so we cansee it better and I'll double- click on it to switch to the Type tool.You can see the cursor flashing inside this paragraph and you might be temptedto try and select the entire paragraph before applying your paragraph formattingbut you don't need to because any paragraph formatting that you apply such ashorizontal alignment or indents is going to apply to the entire paragraphwhether you have it all selected or whether the cursor is just flashing in hereor even if you select a little bit of text. It doesn't really matter.

InDesign is smart enough to know that it is supposed to apply to the entire paragraph.To change my paragraph formatting I could go to the Window menu, choose Type andTables, and then choose Paragraph to open the Paragraph panel but that would be awaste of time and screen real estate because all of those features are alreadyup here at the top in the Control panel.Notice that as I said in the last chapter, there are two modes of the Control panel.The Character Mode and the Paragraph Mode.In this case, obviously we want the Paragraph Mode.Let's look at couple of these features. The first set of buttons in theControl panel have to do with horizontal alignment and right now, we have theJustified Mode selected here.

Justified means that the left edge of the text paragraph is going to be flushwith the left edge of the column and the right edge is also going to be flushwith the right edge of the column, but I could change this to some otherhorizontal alignment such as Left Align.Here the left edge is flush but the right edge is ragged.There is a lot of other options in here too.I don't need to get in all of them, but I will point out that you could centeryour paragraph or make it right aligned and so on.In this case I am going to stick with justified.Now the next set of controls here have to do it with indents and in this case,I am going to go into normal mode instead of preview modeso we can really see the edge of the column here.

Otherwise it's really hard to tell what you're doing with your indents. So I'llcome up here and change the first field.That's the left indent and if I said that to one pica, you'll see that theentire paragraph gets indented.You can ignore this yellow highlighting that just appeared there.It has to do with your hyphenation and justification and I'll be coveringthat in a later movie.The key here is that the whole paragraph has been come indented one pica.I can do the same thing on the right edge by changing the right indent to one pica.

Now the whole thing is sort of block indented.The last indent I want to point out is the first line indent.This is really handy for making the first line go farther than the rest of the paragraph.For example I could set this to another one pica and now it's indented evenfarther. So I know it's exactly two picas in from the edge of the column.The first line indent is the way that you should handle a beginning of a paragraphthat you want indented.Don't try and type spaces or a tab to do it.Use the feature, First-Line Left Indent.

Now let me scroll down little bit here and look at this heading.I wish there were little bit of space before the heading between thisparagraph and the heading.It might be tempting to come in here and type an extra Return or two butdon't do it at all. Let me undo that.I hit Delete to get rid of that.Because there is a fundamental rule of desktop publishing that says never typethe same invisible character twice.That means you shouldn't type two spaces in a row or two paragraph returns ina row or even two tabs in a row. But if you can't type two returns in a rowthen what do you do?How do you get space in here?The key is Space Before and After and that's what these controls are here in the Control panel.

Space Before lets me add a little bit of space above this paragraph.I have my cursor inside my heading here and I'll simply type, let's say P8 for 8 points.Hit Return and you can see it's added space before.If I wanted space after it I could do the same thing over here in the Space After.I'll set that to maybe six points after.Horizontal alignment, indents, spacing, this is just a drop in the bucket.In the next few movies, we'll be looking at creating drop caps, adjustinghyphenation, justification and more.

Q: In the “Exporting to PDF” video, the author states "The flattener, and how to control it, is an advanced topic that I cover in a later title."
Is this “later title” available on lynda.com yet?

A: Unfortunately that title is still in development. However, the features are exactly the same in CS4, so please see Chapter 11 in InDesign CS4 Beyond the Basics.

Q: Can an image be placed into a cell in InDesign?

A: Yes, but only as an anchored (inline) object. Cut the frame with the Selection tool, switch to the Type tool, click in the cell, and Paste.

Q: Is it possible to load or import pages from one document to another in InDesign CS5?

A: Pages cannot be “loaded”, but they can be "pushed" from one document to another by choosing Layout > Pages > Move Pages.

Q: When I place an image, it is distorted or pixilated to the point of not being able to use it. I can place or open those same images in Photoshop or Illustrator and they are fine.

A: You are likely seeing the low-resolution preview. To see high resolution or vector artwork, choose View > Display Performance > High Quality.

Q: When I place an image, it is distorted or pixilated to the point of not being able to use it. I can place or open those same images in Photoshop or Illustrator and they are fine.

A: You are likely seeing the low-resolution preview. To see high resolution or vector artwork, choose View > Display Performance > High Quality.

Q: I'm looking for a tutorial that will allow me to use InDesign to create files that can be emailed. I guess they have to be converted to HTML first? Is that possible?

A: If you are trying to make an HTML email, then InDesign really isn't the tool for you. It's HTML abilities are extremely limited. Look toward Dreamweaver for that. Alternatively, you could create a layout in InDesign, then export the page as a JPEG image and put that in the email.

Q: Since I upgraded to the new version of InDesign, when I click the "edit original" button in the Links panel, the pictures open in Preview instead of Photoshop

A: If you are using the Mac OS, you may need to turn off Window > Application Frame in order to see files behind InDesign (such as those on the Finder Desktop). If you are on Windows, you are seeing a difference between Mac and Windows. In Windows, the application is always living inside the application frame. If you un-maximize the windows frame, you can drag it smaller so you see the desktop and drag to or from it.

Q: I am currently working on an InDesign document originally created in Spanish. I am translating it to English and I need to change the language preference to be able to use the spell check in English. I have changed it in Preferences, but when I go to do the spell check on the document it is still in Spanish. How can I change the spell check to English?

A: Changing the language in preferences does not change the document or text language. You need to change the langauge in the paragraph style or the character style or in the Character panel or the Control panel (select the text first).

Q: In the movie, "Inserting, deleting, and moving pages" the author claims you can Shift-click text and the red overset symbol (a plus sign) will disappear. This isn't working for me.

A: Shift-clicking to make text automatically flow to the next text box or boxes only works when you place text from a loaded cursor. Shift-clicking existing text will not affect it.

Instead, if the overset text symbol appears in an existing text frame, choose the Selection tool and click the symbol to load the text in your cursor. Then Shift-click inside the next text frame to start it auto-flowing from there.

Q: I want to add a 2-page spread following a 1-page spread, but when I insert two new pages, InDesign creates a 3-page spread. How do I solve this?

Q: The keys used for navigating to the previous or next spread in a layout (Command+Page Up/Command+Page Down) don't appear on my laptop keyboard and the arrow keys don't work. What keys should I use?

A: Most laptop keyboards don't have these keys anymore. Look for a "modifier" key (such as the Alt or Fn keys) to press to access these keys. For example, on a Macbook Pro, you'd press Command and then Fn+Up Arrow to invoke Next Spread.

Sorry, there are no matches for your search "" —to search again, type in another word or phrase and click search.

Learn by watching, listening, and doing, Exercise files are the same files the author uses in the course, so you can download them and follow along Premium memberships include access to all exercise files in the library.

Already a member ?

Learn by watching, listening, and doing! Exercise files are the same files the author uses in the course, so you can download them and follow along. Exercise files are available with all Premium memberships.
Learn more

Upgrade to our Annual Premium Membership today and get even more value from your lynda.com subscription:

“In a way, I feel like you are rooting for me. Like you are really invested in my experience, and want me to get as much out of these courses as possible this is the best place to start on your journey to learning new material.”— Nadine H.

Thanks for signing up.

We’ll send you a confirmation email shortly.

Sign up and receive emails about lynda.com and our online training library:

new course releases

newsletter

general communications

special notices

Here’s our privacy policy with more details about how we handle your information.

Keep up with news, tips, and latest courses with emails from lynda.com.

Sign up and receive emails about lynda.com and our online training library:

new course releases

newsletter

general communications

special notices

Here’s our privacy policy with more details about how we handle your information.